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Monday, January 25, 2010

So, Brooklyn has this bad habit when it comes time to go bed in that she won't. Go to bed, that is. That girl is stubborn as a mule. So we played the"Go to bed!""But I don't wanna go to bed!""I didn't ask if you wanted to go. Go to bed!""But I don't wanna go to bed!""I didn't ask if you wanted to go. Go to bed!""But I don't wanna go to bed!""I didn't ask if you wanted to go. Go to bed!"game 5000 times. Finally, defeated, she stomped off as noisily as a 32-pound child wearing 2 pairs of socks can stomp. (Yes, she was wearing 2 pairs of socks and Lexi's leg warmers that run from her little feet up to her butt because for some reason, it seemed more reasonable to put that on with spaghetti-strapped, summer, shorty pajamas, than changing into warmer, winter-wear. I don't ask anymore.)All was fine. She was in her bed. She was quiet. The lights were off. No giggling was heard. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Clay's backpack move. That can't be right! Backpacks don't just move. What the...??? Inch by inch, his backpack moved down the hallway and toward the kitchen. Behind the backpack, Brooklyn, who in her mind, was completely camouflaged, carried out her commando mission into enemy territory. Austin, Savannah, and I, however, were too bright for her tactics. The hot pink leg warmers sticking out and scooting along were a dead giveaway. We stifled our giggles and watched in fascination as she continued to make her way into the kitchen "unseen".I almost didn't have the heart to tell her, "The jig is up!" Almost. I'm happy to report that the stubborn, camouflaged, walking backpack is now soundly sleeping in her own bed. And it only took 40 minutes for her to stop crying. Life is good. Now where did I put that wine?

Dawn - sounds like a story shared by many of us. My (at the time) 3 year old would was stubborn too. I would say it's time to go to bed. He replied, "Blah, Blah Blah me no hear you" or "me don't care". Ugh... little do they know how precious sleep can be.

I had games last night at my house too. After my stubborn 3 year old got out of bed AGAIN....I said, "If you don't want to go to bed....you can put your nose on the wall." Then I waited and said "Are you ready to go back to bed?" She wasn't crying....just standing there with her nose on the wall. She said she didn't want to go to bed....so she stood at the wall a little longer, and after awhile....I asked her again, and again the answer was NO. Finally....she got tired and bored. She went to bed and fell right to sleep. It was pretty funny how easy it was. I didn't have to talk or give her any reasons. It was the wall....or her bed. Maybe I'll use this one again sometime in the future. :)

My eldest daughter started resisting bedtime at around 2 years of age. We would put her to bed, then she would pop back out a minute later and we'd repeat this routine for an hour or more before we finally went in to find her asleep in on the floor, in the wardrobe or even sometimes on the bed.

After hearing me say "If I see you one more time, there will be a consequence!" did my darling stay in bed? Nope. Covered up her eyes so I wouldn't see her and came back down the hall! Crashed into the door jamb a few times, but never peeked once. I laughed so hard the other kids came out to see what was wrong!

Look on the bright side, she is creative, unstoppable, and determined. Great traits to have as an adult, now to just steer that "creativity" in the right direction. At least, that's what I keep telling myself with my kids. :)

Your blog is amazing. I congrulation you. You have 6 child.I am working momy and have 1 daughter.My daughter is 4.Yesterday she played with quilt in bed like your daughter. I said ,you should sleep and will go to school. she didn't listen me after she tired and slept.I think, All child have same action.This is funny, isn't it?See youDerya(Ocean,sea in english)